THALAMIFLOE^. 503 



Distribution, ^c. — These plants are found both in temperate 

 and tropical regions of the globe : they are, however, most 

 abundant in the tropics, and especially so in tropical America. 

 Examples : — Xanthoxylon, Toddaha, Ptelea. There are 21 

 genera, and about 110 species included in this order. 



Properties and Uses. — This order is almost universally cha- 

 racterised by pungent and aromatic properties, and sometimes by 

 bitterness. In medicine, the plants belonging to it have been 

 employed as stimulants, sudorifics, febrifuges, tonics, sialo- 

 gogues, and emmenagogues. The more important are as 

 follows : — 



Xanthoxylon The species of this genus possess in a remarkable degree pun- 

 gent and aromatic properties, hence they are popularly known under the name 

 of Peppers in their native coimtries. In America they are also commonly 

 known under the name of Prickly Ash. The fruit oi X. piperitum \s em- 

 ployed by the Chinese and Japanese as a condiment, and as an antidote against 

 all poisons. It is commonly termed in commerce, Japanese Pepper. The aro- 

 matic pungent properties appear to he confined to the pericarp. ytenh<-use has 

 recently described two peculiar principles which he obtained from what he 

 believed to be the true Japanese Pepper, viz., an oil and a stearopten j the 

 former is a pure hydrocarbon, to which the aromatic odour of the pepper is 

 due, and to which he has given the name oi Xanthoxylene; the latter is a crys- 

 talline solid body consisting of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, but devoid of 

 nitrogen when pure ; this principle he has called Xanthoxylin,* The root 

 of X. nitidum is used as a sudorific, stimulant, febrifuge and emmenagogue, 

 by the Chinese. X. Clava and. fraxineum are alio employed in Amciicaas 

 sudorifics, &c., and are said to possess extraordinary power in exciting sali- 

 vation. X. caribceum is reputed to be a good febrifuge. X. Budrunga has 

 aromatic fragrant seeds resembling Lemon-peel ; and the unripe fruit and 

 seeds of X. Rhetsa have a taste like that of Orange-peel. The fruit and seeds 

 ofX. An5<?7e are sometimes employed in India for the purpose of st i|pifying fish. 



Toddalia acideata The bark of the root is said to be febrifugal. 



Ptelea, — The fruit is very bitter and aromatic, and has been used, according 

 to Wight, as a substitute for Hops, and as a pickle. 



Natural Order 61. OcHKACE.a:. — The Ochna Order. — 

 General Character. — Undershrubs, or smooth trees, with a 

 watery juice. — Leaves simple, stipulate, alternate. Pedicels 

 jointed in the middle. Sepals .5, persistent, imbricate. Petals 

 hypogynous, definite, sometimes twice as many as the sepals, 

 deciduous, imbricated. Stamens equal in number to the sepals 

 and opposite to them, or twice as many, or more numerous ; 

 filaments persistent and inserted on a hypogynous disk ; anthers 

 2 -celled, with longitudinal or porous dehiscence. Carpels cor- 

 responding in number to the petals, inserted on a large fleshy 

 disk, or gynophore, which becomes larger as the carpels grow ; 

 ovules 1 in each carpel, erect or pendulous. Fruit consisting of 

 several indehiscent, somewhat drupaceous, 1 -seeded carpels. 



* Mr. Daniel Hanbury informs me that, the so-called Japanese Pepper, from 

 which Dr. Stenhouse obtained the above principles, was not in reality that sub- 

 stance at all, but an analogous pepper, which was forwarded to him from 

 China, and which he has proved to be the produce of X. alatum, a native of 

 China and Nepaul. He also informs me that he thinks the pungency is due 

 to a resinous substance, which is contained in the pepper, in addition to the 

 Xanthoxylene and Xanthoxylin alluded to above. 

 K K 4 



